Spring suspension of independent car wheels, especially for motor vehicles



Nov. 16, 1937. v F. PORSCHE 2,099,312

SPRING SUSPENSION 'OF INDEPENDENT CAR WHEELS, ESPECIALLY FOR MOTORVEHICLES Filed Jan. 25, 1932 s Sheet-Sheet 1 Jrweni'or:

Nav. 16, 1937.

F. PORSCHE SPRING SUSPENSION INDEPENDENT CAR, WHEELS, ESPECIALLY FORMOTOR VEHICLES Filed Jan. 25. 1932 Nov. 16, 1937. j PQRSCHE 2,-0,i2

SPRINGSUSPENSION OF INDEPENDENT CAR WHEEIES ESPECIALLY FORMOTORVVEHICLES Patented Nov. 11 6, 1931;-

The invention car. wheels by means of This is done by seated in theframe, hav

in the direction the wheel by two ball rangement the braking an PATIENToFFica 'srnnva SUSPENSION. OF INDEPENDENT CAB WHEEL VEHICLES s,ESPECIALLY F012 Moron Ferdinand Porsche, Stuttgart,

consists nppucsum r num 25. 1922, Serial No. 588,719

ermany August 10, 1931 5 Claims. (Cl. 280-124) 4 in the suspensionof thea so-called joint square.

means of two supporting levers of the car, and

ing a swinging motion connected with joints. Owing to this ar- (1driving moments of reaction of the wheels are compensated for by twoforces in the same a acting in the supporting influence on the spring.formation of the two b not only the tion of the supporting time it isalso possible to swing the -the'connecting line of the fore the.arrangement is 'espe steering wheels space-saving construction.

whether freely-running or driven steering wheels are employed, sincethere is enough room between the ball joints to lead th through.Therefore, the

lovers and involves types of car wheels.

Theinvention also consists in supporting lever plus with the nection oithe each wheel, independently of the on springs.

so that the one of-the supporting levers is the elastic elements andshock-absorbing action effects of the transferred to the'frame,

elements.

' kept'suillciently rigid. This is means of a stiflening of the framewith also serve to enclose According to springs. arereplacedbending-springs lying crosswise relative the better overall efllciencywhich springs possess plate springs with th tion, presents ,anoth incomparison two ball joints.

cially suitable for a plain,

e driving I invention concerns all nd opposite direction,

but causing no In consequence of the all joints at the wheel latter canfollow the swinging mo- ,levers, but at the same wheel around Therecheapand is immaterial shaft therethe directconelastic and shock-absorbingelements, so,that

other, can move It is possible to arrange springs ting levers areconnected with reaction effects levers may be balanced. 9

sible, such as where connected withthe other with the In this case there elastic elements must be and the latter must be carried out by pipeconnecting the ends each other and which may the elastic elements.

invention the usual plate, by spiral or screw-shaped torsional andelastic bars to the car. Besides, the

these types of with the usual eir considerable internal friceradvantage, that is, that they are extremely compendious and thereforemay be easily place for the support mentioned stifle ing lever ning tubeof the d in the casing of a bearing pins or in the abovefr'ame, wherebysteering wheel and cording to Fig. 1;

to the left-hand front steering wheel of a motor vehicle: Fig.1 is acombined-longitudinal section taken online l-l of Flg.'2 through the hubof a driven its suspension on thegframe (crosswise to the direction ofthe vehicle);

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the construction ac- Fig. 3 is a-side elevationof Fig. 1 with parts in section;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinalsectlon taken on line Fig.5 is a diagra maticviewv illustrating the hinged parallelogram in accordance with Figs. 1to 4; Fig. 6 is 'a diagrammatic view illustrating a hinged square as amodificationof the arrangement accordin Fig. 5;' v

Fig. 'l' is a combined longitudinal section taken on line '|-'l of Fig.8 through the hub of an ordinary steering wheel and its suspension onthe frame (crosswise to the direction of the vehicle);

, Fig. 8 is a plan view partly in section of the construction of Fig.'7; g

' Fig. 9 is a side view of a part of the construction of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section taken on line Fig. 11 is alongitudinalsection-taken on line "-11 of Fi 8;

' Fig. 12 is a sectional view of amodifled form of the construction ofFig. 8;

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal section taken online 13-13 of Fig. 12; i

Fig. 14 is. a side view in the direction of the vehicle of the bearingsof the two steering wheels in accordance with Figs. 7 to 13; i

Fig. 15 is a sectional, view of a third modification of theconstructions according to Figs. 8 and 12;

Fig. 16 is a longitudinal section taken on line l6--I6 of Fig. 15; and

Fig. 17 is a longitudinal section taken on line l'I-.-ll' of Fig. 15 inthe side elevation.

In theexample of execution illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 the wheel hub lis connected with.the driving shaft 2 by means of the coupling piece 3.The hollow stump 5 of the axle is seated in the wheel hub l by means ofand secured by the nut 6 against the hub I. At

the two ball bearings 4 which provided in the supporting levers l6 andI1,.

which rest on a connecting rod l8 whose ends 2| and 22 are spherical andseat in the corresponding sockets l9 and 26 of the supporting levers l6and I1 respectively. The bolt-shaped ends or shafts 23'and 24 of thesupporting levers are doubly seated in the spring case 28 by means ofthe bushes 25, 25a and 26, 26a, and are maintained in their positions bythe discs 29 and 36. Between the bearing points 25, 25a and 26, 26a, thebolts 23 and 24 are connected, by means of the channel sections 3| and32 respectively, with the eyes of the flexible spring 33 which surroundsthe bolts in spiral formation as shown in Fig. 4.

The spring case 28 is rendered accessible by a cap 34 screwed on thefist-shaped end of the frame 35, for instance by means of the bolts 36.The steering lever 31 is firmly connected with the axle fork 1.

If the wheel is springy, both supporting levers l6'and |1 swing throughthe flexible-spring 33 connected with them is tensioned, withouttransferring any reaction effects to the frame. The spring case 28 isfilled with grease which'is pressed out in the direction of theintermediate spiral spaces and acts as a damping of the spring motion,for the reason that the edges of the spring 33 close with the wall ofthe casing. In order to make sure that the supporting levers |6and H areadjusted as far as possible without any play, the socket I I providedwith thread |2 can be regulated at will. The steering of the wheel 2 iseffected around the axle illustrated by the connecting line of the ballcentre 8 and 9, in the usual way by means of the steering lever 31.

When the springing of the wheel takes place for a distance a, asillustrated in Fig. 5, the steering axle is shifted parallel to itself.Its piercing point with the bottom remains a distance to'the extent bfrom the bearing point of the wheel, which sometimes causes diflicultiesin steering. This disadvantage is avoided by the formation of thesteering square according to Fig. 6. Here the steering axle passesexactly through the bearing point of the wheel and participates in asmall forward rotation, as soon as the wheel is springing. Also in thisnew position the steering axle passes through the bearing point of thewheel so that the steering can all positions of the wheel.

In the examples of execution illustrated in Figs; 7 to 13, the wheel hub38 is connected in the usual way with the wheel body 39. By means of theroller bearings 46 and 4| the axle-stump 42 is seated in the hub andmaintained by the nut 43. At the other end (inside of the wheel) theaxle stump 42 has the form of a fist 44 in which a divided axle bolt 45and 46 is fixed by means of the clamping-screws 41 and 48. The ends 49and 56 of the axle bolt 45 and 46 respectively are spherical and seatedin corresponding bearings 5| and 52 at the supporting levers 53 and 54.These bearings 5| and 52- respectively can be adjusted and regulated bymeans of the caps 55 and 56. The bolt-shaped ends 51 and 58 of thesupporting levers 53 and 54 are doubly seated in the shock-absorbingcase 63 by means of the bushes 59, 66 and 6|, 62 respectively. The upper7 to 10 the lower bolt 51 to each other, whereby 64. The torsion springacts in be easily handled for bolt 58 bears a lever 64 fixed by means ofthe screw 65 and which drives with each swinging motion of the bolt 58 ashock absorbing piston of known construction. and whose cylinder pipe 66is indicated. The shock-absorber casing 63 is firmly connected with theframe fist 69 by means of the flange 61 and the screw 68.

In the example of execution illustrated kin Figs. is hollow. Its outerend (0 the side of the wheel) is firmly connected with the bar-shapedtorsion-spring 16 lying in the centre and is secured againstdisplacement by means of the pin 1|. The torsion spring 16 lies within atube 83 intended to stiffen the frame, approximately to the middle ofcar 12,

. where it is firmly connected with the cylindrical intermediate piece13 freely movable within the pipe 83. A certain number of otherbar-shaped torsion-springs 14 surround the central spring 16 like awreath, with utmost utilization of the inner space of the pipe, so thatthe outer springs 14 are fixed, on the one hand, in the intermediatepiece 13, and on the other hand in a flange piece 15 which is screwed onthe latter between the frame-fist 69 and the flange 61. of theshockabsorber casing 63.-

The connection between the bar-shaped springs 16 and 14 and the bolt51'or the intermediate piece 13 or the flange piece 15 is effected bychannel sections. The steering takes place in the manner indicated inthe foregoing example.

which the claws 86 and 8| are milled. By means of the claws 86 connectedwith and 8| the fiexion spring 16 is corresponding counter-claws of thebolt 51, on the one hand, and of the intermediate piece 82 firmlytightened up .with the pipe 83, which guarantees an easy regulation andadjustment.

If the wheel swings through, for instance to the top, the bolt 51 joinsin swinging and tightens the spring (either the torsion or the fiexionspring 16), whilst at the same time the bolt 58 drives by its swingingmotion the hydraulic shock-absorber by means of the lever such a mannerthat the turning moment is introduced into the central spring 16 andtransferred through the intermediate piece13 to the outer spring 14 andover the. flange piece 15 to the frame 69. fiexion spring 16acts in such9. introduced turning moment is transferred to the intermediate piece 82and thereby to the torsionproof pipe 83.'

In the example ofexecutlon illustrated in Figs. 14 to 17 the steeringwheels are seated in the manner illustrated in Figs. 7 to 13. Theirabsorption by springs, however, takes place by means of two singletorsion springs 16 and 16' respectively. The bar 16 is fastened on theone hand to the end of the supporting lever pin 51 exactly as before(side of the wheel), and on the other hand in a flange piece 84' whichis screwed (68') on the frame fist of the opposite cross beam 69'.

-In order that the bars 16 and 16' can pass each springs 1| and 14 theflange piece 84 lies by the side of the. fixing point 85 of the otherbar in the flange piece 84'. Betweenthe flange pieces 84 and 84 lies thestiffening tube 83 in which the bars 1!] and III are placed invisiblefrom outside.

If for instance the wheel 39 is swinging through to the top, a turningmoment is introduced into the torsion spring 10 exactly as in theforegoing example of execution, but the reaction acts now in theopposite, cross beam 69', whilst the shockabsorber 66 is handled exactlyas before. In 'consequence of the eccentricity of its fixing-points, thetorsion bar will get bent but owing to this arrangement so much has beengained in length of spring and thereby in useful volume of spring, ascan be found by a single torsion spring per wheel.

The invention is not limited to the illustrated examples of execution.For instance the torsion bars can be replaced by torsion tubes; insteadof fastening the torsion springs by means of grooves, the fixing can beeffected also by means of flanges or claws; combinations of torsion andflexion springs are possible, for instance a central tor sion springsurrounded by a screw-shaped flexion spring. Moreover, parts andparticular features of this invention can be employed for the springsuspension of wheels by means of hinged parallelograms swingingcrosswise to the direction of the route or of single supporting leversswinging in the direction of the route.-

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of saidinvention, and in what manner the same is to be performedl declare thatwhat I claim is:

' 1. A wheel suspension particularly for motor cars, comprising avertical member on which the wheel is mounted, a pair of supportinglevers forming a four jointed link motion device with the member guidingit for oscillation in rigidly determined planes and. having one endofeach of the levers connected with invariable spacing of joints to oneend of the member, a shaft secured at the other end of each of thelevers, a single metallic spring secured to each of the shafts, andmeans for mounting said shafts with invariable spacing of axes on aframe of the car whereby the wheel will be elastically mounted relativeto the frame, said spring being continuous and spirally coiled aroundeach shaft and one end is secured to each shaft.

2. A wheel suspension particularly for motor cars, comprising a verticalmember on which the wheel, is mounted, a pair of supporting leversforming a four jointed link motion device with the member guiding it foroscillation in rigidly determined planes and having one end of each ofthe levers'connected with invariable spacing of joints to one end of themember, a shaft secured at the other end of each of the levers, a singlemetallic spring secured to each of the shafts, and means for mountingsaid shafts with invariable spacing of axes on a frame of the carwhereby the wheel will be elastically mounted relativeto the frame, saidspring being continuous and spirally wound around each shaft and one endis secured to each shaft by means of a knurled spring eye.

3. A wheel suspension particularly for motor cars, comprising a verticalmember on which the wheel is mounted, a pair of supporting leversforming a four jointed link motion device with the member guiding it foroscillation in rigidly determined planes and having one end of 'each ofthe levers connected with invariable spacing of joints to one end of themember, a shaft secured at the other end of each of the levers, a singlemetallic spring secured to each of the shafts, and means for mountingsaid-shafts with invariable spacing of axes on a frame of the carwhereby the wheel will be elastically mounted relative to the frame,said means'including a housing for the spring having small clearance forthe spring and which is adapted to be filled with a thick liquid.

4. In an independent wheel suspension especially for motor vehicleshaving a frame in which the wheel swings on an articulated parallelogramsystem having pivots and torsion resisting means connected to at leastone of its pivots, an axle stub on which the wheel is mounted, two rigidlinks each having a ball joint at the ends thereof pressed againstcorresponding surfaces of the axle stub in such a manner as to permitsteering movements of the wheel, a bar interposed between said links, apivot on each link, and rigid bearings on the frame for the pivots forsuspension movements of the wheel and links.

5. In an independent wheel suspension especially for motor vehicleshaving a frame in which the wheel swings on an articulated parallelogramsystem having pivots and torsion resisting means connected to at leastone of its pivots, a stub axle upon which said wheel is mounted, tworigid links each having ball joint ends pressed against correspondingsurfaces of said axle stub, said links having ball cups between whichballs are interposed to form the ball joints, whereby steering movementsof the wheel are permitted, a bar interposed between said links, a pivoton each link, and rigid bearings on the frame for the pivots forsuspension movements of the wheel and links.

FERDINAND PORSCHE.

